SHARE

Lawmakers pull back on state employee union bill

DENVER — Senate Democrats have backed off a plan that would have made it easier to collect contributions from state employee union members.

Senate GOP leaders launched a series of delaying tactics today in an effort to kill the provision before the Legislature ends its 120-day session on Wednesday.

Democrats said they were only trying to codify current practices.

Grand Junction Republican and Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry had said the bill would put into law an executive order issued by Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter that allows the state to collect union dues from members of the state employee union, giving Democrats millions of dollars for elections.